If you’ve ever wondered or asked that question, check out renowned Design Anthropologist Amy Santee and her interview series with applied anthropologists.

While her series may answer that question for the uninitiated, it also has a wealth of great inspiration for the recent or soon-to-be anthro grad.

Santee describes the series this way:

Anthropologists in Practice is an ongoing interview series featuring practicing anthropologists who work outside universities. The goal of the series is to provide a source of information and inspiration to anyone who is interested in the application of anthropology in the real world, including anthropologists, anthropology students, prospective anthropology students, employers, policymakers and the general public. It seeks to illustrate the wide variety of jobs, skills and competencies held by anthropologists, and create clarity around where and how we work. While all of the interviews follow a similar framework, each one is unique in its reflections on anthropology training and education, workplace applications, and advice for current and future practitioners.